Keast & Hood’s expertise in historic preservation and adaptive reuse was prevalent during the 23rd Annual Preservation Achievement Awards. A total of six Keast & Hood projects were honored with Grand Jury Awards. Five of which Keast & Hood served as the structural engineer of record and one, Walnut 32 Garage on which we were the lead consultant to the University of Pennsylvania. It is not only extensive experience, but a careful attention to detail and creative problem solving that differentiates Keast & Hood as a national leader in historic preservation. Learn more about our roles on the winning projects below…

Walnut 32 Garage at the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA - Designed by noted Philadelphia architects Mitchell/Giurgola Associates in 1961, the Walnut 32 Garage is designated as “Distinguished 1” by the University of Pennsylvania’s internal ranking system of significant campus buildings. The completed structure is an exemplification of mid-century modern design. Keast & Hood addressed the structure’s various levels of deterioration from moisture intrusion, aging, and other environmental factors, while respectively restoring the garage in concert with the architect’s original design intent.

Beth Sholom Synagogue Elkins Park, PA - Working with John Milner Architects, Keast & Hood provided structural design for improved accessibility to the main sanctuary and lower level of this National Historic Landmark synagogue designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957. Structural scope included the insertion of a new elevator and shaft within the confines of an existing communicating stair.

Margaret Esherick House, Philadelphia, PA - Keast & Hood provided structural engineering services to Louis Kahn for the original construction of the landmark house in 1961. We were then retained to provide a structural conditions assessment and preservation consulting to Kevin Yoder Design for the conservation of the house under it’s new ownership in 2015.

City Hall Portal Gates, Philadelphia, PA - Structural engineer to Vitetta, Keast & Hood provided support for the installation and lighting of the new portal gates. The gates were fabricated from John McArthur Jr’s original 1869 drawings and weigh 2,500 lbs each. Keast & Hood has also served as the structural consultant on a multi-disciplinary team working on various restorations to City Hall since 1991

Trinity Episcopal Church, Princeton, New Jersey - As consultants to KSK Architects, Planners, and Historians, Keast & Hood assisted in creating floor penetrations and wall openings for the historic 1861 building’s new HVAC system. Structural scope included the construction of new area-ways for the HVAC system and modification of the existing framing for the installation of a new skylight in the Narthex.

Rutgers University Writers House, Camden, New Jersey - Renovation of the historic 1885 Wilson Eyre designed Henry Genet Taylor House and the construction of a 4,320 SF addition to house the English Department’s operations and programs.